It’s inevitable in any small business. There will be people you take on as clients who will bug you.
Maybe it’s because they are demanding. Perhaps they have a hard time making a final decision. Or they hire you for your expertise but don’t actually follow through with the direction you provide them with.
Whatever the reason, you have to realize something very important about clients who bug you.
That realization is it’s not their fault they bug you, it’s yours.
OUCH. Harsh to hear, I know. I can hear you all the way over here in Surprise, AZ.
“Hey Bill, they bug me, they don’t do this or expect that. How is that MY fault?”
Here’s the thing I’ve learned over the past 30-years in business.
Expectations are set by the seller and not the buyer.
The buyer tells you what they need. You need to listen and fully understand. First, be sure you understand their expectation. Make sure it’s realistic and you can deliver.
Understand past challenges your client has had in advance.
Find out how decisions are made as the project progresses.
In other words, understand your client, their working style and decision making process. When you do you’ll avoid being bugged mid-project every time.
Remember, being a great vendor is up to you. It is not up to your clients.
Be the preeminent choice in your market because you care the most about client results.
Make the effort to understand how your clients like to work. Know how they make decisions at the onset of the project.
When moments arise that bug you coach them. Help them to see how they are reacting. Point them in a direction that gets the project completed, meets their expectations and helps them reach their goals.
After all, every client wants one thing. A result.
No matter what business you are in you always have to realize your true role. You are a vendor, expert in your market niche, provider of service, coach, consultant and sometimes psychotherapist.
Above it all though, you are always the person who cares the most about the results your clients achieve and the value they receive from working with you.
